The studies below are the research and citations supporting our work in maxillary expansion (RME/MSE) & airway improvements. Each title links to its source publication. This collection includes 22 studies.
Effects of rapid maxillary expansion on nasal airway function in children
Compadretti, G.C., et al. — Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol, 2006.
Three-dimensional evaluation of upper airway changes after RME using CBCT
Zhao, Y., et al. — Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop, 2010.
MSE produces true midpalatal suture opening in adults
Cantarella, D., et al. — Progress in Orthodontics, 2017.
Long-term effects of RME on nasal airway ventilation
De Felippe, N. L., et al. — Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop, 2008.
Rapid Maxillary Expansion (RME): An Otolaryngologic Perspective
Cerritelli L, Hatzopoulos S, Catalano A, et al. — Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2022.
An otolaryngologic review synthesizing how palatal expansion widens the nasal floor, improves Eustachian tube function and conductive hearing, stiffens airway musculature, and supports the shift from mouth to nasal breathing.
Assessment of the Effect of Rapid Maxillary Expansion on Nasal Respiratory Function and Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome in Children: A Systematic Review
Inchingolo AD, Marinelli G, Cavino M, et al. — Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2025.
Systematic review finding that expansion consistently enlarges the nasal cavity and nasopharynx and improves nasal respiratory function in children with sleep-disordered breathing.
Rapid Maxillary Expansion and Its Consequences on the Nasal and Oropharyngeal Anatomy and Breathing Function of Children and Adolescents: An Umbrella Review
Garrocho-Rangel A, Rosales-Berber MÁ, Ballesteros-Torres A, et al. — International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology, 2023.
Umbrella review of 11 systematic reviews (132 studies) concluding that increases in nasal and oropharyngeal volume and reductions in airway resistance appear immediately after expansion and remain stable at 3, 6, and 12 months.
Rapid Palate Expansion’s Impact on Nasal Breathing: A Systematic Review
Inchingolo AD, Laforgia A, Inchingolo AM, et al. — International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology, 2025.
Systematic review of 41 studies confirming enlargement of the nasal cavity and nasopharynx with improved peak nasal inspiratory flow and reduced nasal resistance after expansion.
Relationship Between Maxillary Transverse Deficiency and Respiratory Problems: A Systematic Review of the Effectiveness of Devices Over the Past Decade
Ierardo G, Nicita F, Vozza I, Polimeni A, Luzzi V. — Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2025.
Reviews expansion device outcomes over ten years; spirometry improved after expansion (gains in FEV1, FVC, FEF25-75) particularly in oral breathers, while maxillary sinus effects were smaller and more variable.
Does Rapid Maxillary Expansion Improve Nasal Airway Obstruction? A Computer Fluid Dynamics Study in Patients With Nasal Mucosa Hypertrophy and Obstructive Adenoids
Sakoda-Iwata R, Iwasaki T, Tsujii T, et al. — American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, 2023.
CFD analysis showing nasal airway obstruction improved in 90% of children without obstructive adenoids after expansion, but only 23% of those with obstructive adenoids, underscoring that adenoid pathology must be addressed separately.
The Role of Rapid Maxillary Expansion in the Management of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea: Monitoring Respiratory Parameters – a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Hariharan A, Muwaquet Rodriguez S, Hijazi Alsadi T. — Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2024.
Meta-analysis finding expansion effective for both pediatric and adult OSA, with significant reductions in apnea-hypopnea index and increases in oxygen saturation.
Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome by Rapid Maxillary Expansion
Cistulli PA, Palmisano RG, Poole MD. — Sleep, 1998.
Early clinical study in young adults with mild-to-moderate OSA in which AHI dropped from 19 to 7 events/hour, with most patients normalizing.
Airway Compartments Volume and Oxygen Saturation Changes After Rapid Maxillary Expansion: A Longitudinal Correlation Study
Fastuca R, Perinetti G, Zecca PA, Nucera R, Caprioglio A. — The Angle Orthodontist, 2015.
Longitudinal CBCT study documenting significant increases in upper, middle, and lower airway volumes, a 5.3% rise in oxygen saturation, and a reduction of 4.2 AHI events after expansion.
Sleep Disordered Breathing Symptoms in Children: A Prospective Evaluation 5 Years After Maxillary Expansion
Nietvelt N, Willems G, Buyse B, Detailleur V, Cadenas de Llano-Pérula M. — Sleep Medicine, 2025.
Prospective study showing improvements in sleep questionnaire scores (breathing, snoring, behavior) remained stable for at least five years, regardless of subsequent orthodontic treatment.
The Role of Rapid Maxillary Expansion in Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Efficacy, Mechanism and Multidisciplinary Collaboration
Xie B, Zhang L, Lu Y. — Sleep Medicine Reviews, 2023.
Review of the mechanisms behind expansion’s airway benefits: increased pharyngeal dimensions, a more forward tongue posture enabled by the wider palate, and reduced nasal resistance.
An Alternative Treatment Approach for Patients With Resistant Otitis Media With Effusion and Dysfunctional Eustachian Tube
Kılıç N, Yörük Ö, Kılıç SC. — The Angle Orthodontist, 2021.
Study of children with resistant OME and maxillary constriction in which 68.2% of dysfunctional ears recovered normal Eustachian tube function after expansion, potentially avoiding ventilation-tube surgery.
Evaluation of Rapid Maxillary Expansion or Alternating Rapid Maxillary Expansion and Constriction on Eustachian Tube Function With Audiological Tests: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Çoban Büyükbayraktar Z, Doğan M, Doruk C, Özel VY. — International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology, 2023.
Randomized trial in which nearly all dysfunctional ears (17 of 18 RME; 21 of 22 Alt-RAMEC) recovered normal Eustachian tube function after expansion.
Effects of Rapid Maxillary Expansion on Hearing Loss and Otitis Media in Cleft Palate Children
Rosso C, Colletti L, Foltran M, et al. — European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, 2022.
In cleft-palate children, a group with very high rates of middle-ear disease, expansion produced statistically significant improvements in air-bone gaps and tympanometry, stable at six months.
Effects of Symmetric and Asymmetric Rapid Maxillary Expansion Treatments on Pharyngeal Airway and Sinus Volume
Erdur EA, Yıldırım M, Karatas RMC, Akin M. — The Angle Orthodontist, 2020.
Compares symmetric and asymmetric expansion protocols and their differing effects on pharyngeal airway and maxillary sinus volume.
Volumetric Changes in the Upper Airways After Rapid and Slow Maxillary Expansion in Growing Patients: A Case-Control Study
Lanteri V, Farronato M, Ugolini A, et al. — Materials (Basel), 2020.
Case-control comparison of rapid versus slow expansion, both producing measurable increases in upper airway volume in growing patients.
Effects of Rapid Maxillary Expansion on Upper Airway Parameters in OSA Children With Maxillary Restriction: A CBCT Study
Zreaqat M, Hassan R, Alforaidi S, Kassim NK. — Pediatric Pulmonology, 2024.
CBCT study confirming that children with OSA and maxillary restriction have reduced nasal and oropharyngeal airway dimensions that improve after expansion.
Effects of Maxillary Expansion on the Upper Airways: Evidence From Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses
Bucci R, Montanaro D, Rongo R, et al. — Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, 2019.
Synthesis of systematic reviews and meta-analyses on how maxillary expansion affects the upper airway, supporting nasal volume gains and resistance reduction.
